Pottery Barn Sofa Review 2023: What to Know

Jul 13, 2023

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Buying a new couch is an important investment and one that you’ll likely hang onto for several years. In fact, most of us spend hours on our sofas, whether it’s to watch TV, host guests or simply sink in and relax after a long day.

Pottery Barn is a popular couch-shopping go-to since the brand sells high-quality sofas in a wide variety of styles and for all comfort preferences. But even after choosing your shopping destination, the possibilities can seem endless when it comes to fabric choices, shapes and softness levels. We’re here to help you narrow down which Pottery Barn sofa is right for you.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab regularly evaluate sofas and couches, from sectional sofas to sectionals for small spaces as well as the comfiest sleeper sofas for guests. To find the best sofas, we first review materials, features and other specifications. We then collect in-depth feedback from survey panelists about the sofas they own in their homes. Most recently, more than 5,800 sofa owners — including more than 100 Pottery Barn sofa owners — shared their responses on everything from how comfortable their sofa felt to how well it's held up over time.

In our reviews below, you’ll find the most popular and best-selling Pottery Barn sofas according to our evaluations and real users. Keep on scrolling to learn more about how to choose the right one for you at the bottom of this article.

The Pearce is our top recommendation from our Textiles Lab for anyone shopping for a comfy sofa with a versatile design. It's an excellent choice if you're looking for a sectional, and each configuration sports an elegant, classic style. Our survey respondents applauded the Pearce sofa for its support, comfort and attractive design.

We found that the sofa falls into that sweet spot between plush and firm, or as it's described by the brand: “supportive yet sink-in soft.” It's super comfortable without being too formal or too casual. We also appreciate the high-quality construction, including steel springs for adequate cushion support and a kiln-dried hardwood frame for durability.

Like most Pottery Barn sofas, we like that the Pearce is available in an endless combination of fabrics and colors to suit your space. If you can't decide on a fabric, you can order free swatches directly from Pottery Barn to assess each material. Just keep in mind that respondents shared mixed reviews of the sofa’s fabric and how it held up over time, though most were satisfied with the quality. “It’s stylish, comfortable and fits perfectly in our living room,” says one respondent.

The Buchanan sofa is not only a great value sofa from Pottery Barn, but it's also excellent for smaller spaces as it's more compact than others. You can customize it to your liking, but keep in mind that the polyester-wrapped cushions will have a firmer feel than some of the other sofas featured. If you want to really maximize your space and be able to accommodate guests, we also recommend this sleeper sofa from the collection that includes a memory foam mattress.

Several survey panelists share that this sofa has held up well over time. “The sofa looks the same today as the day we received it," says one respondent. “We have a 13- and 9-year-old boy, two Labrador Retrievers and one Golden Retriever; our Buchanan sofa has held up extremely well over the years,” says another respondent.

The Carlisle stands out for its unique design. Featuring English roll arms, intricate wood legs and a curved shape, this couch has a sophisticated classic appeal for those who think many of today's sofas are boxy or too simple. Like other Pottery Barn sofas, you can customize the fabric and size to your liking, though there do appear to be slightly fewer options to choose from in this collection.

We like that you can choose your seat cushion fill; those who prefer a firmer feel will be happy with a polyester fill while those who like a softer couch should opt for the down blend. "The down blend is very comfortable," says one survey panelist. Others point out that the sofa is less plush than others, but that they still found it stylish and comfy. "I love the style of the English roll arm," says another survey respondent.

You may be tempted to take a nap on this super comfy sofa. Not only does it feature a deep seat, but you can tailor it to your comfort and style by selecting your ideal seat cushion fill, depending on how much softness you like. Choose memory foam for a sink-in yet supportive feel or a down blend if you're seeking an even softer, cushier feel. This couch is made for lounging, so we recommend it for frequently-used rooms and TV-watching spaces, as opposed to more formal living rooms. Some of our panelists do warn, however, that the cushions may lose some of their oomph over time.

Similar to other PB sofas, there’s a variety of customization options available with the PB Comfort. This model in particular has a slipcover that can be removed for cleaning and maintenance – just make sure to follow care instructions specific to your fabric selection. Many of our survey panelists pointed out how easy it was to clean the slipcovers, while others raved about the sofa's comfort. “It’s very well made and super cozy,” says one panelist.

We love the clean, modern look and feel of this PB sofa, which features a sleek design and sloped arms. Though this model is leather (and available in a variety of beautiful, rich shades), it’s also sold in other fabrics so you can choose the right feel for you. According to Pottery Barn, the sofa’s softness sits right between soft and firm so you should feel comfortable without sinking in too much.

It's a great choice if you're looking for a stylish sofa, but one that remains functional without being too formal. In fact, many of our survey respondents agree that the York Sofa is the right balance between supportive and comfortable, though some point out that they wish the seat was a bit deeper. “It’s supportive and not too deep, yet also easy to lounge on,” says one panelist. “It’s high-quality and durable,” says another.

The furniture experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab evaluate couches and sofas for all style preferences and comfort needs. In addition to researching the materials and specs of each sofa, we surveyed our tester panel for in-depth feedback on the Pottery Barn sofas they own.

In our latest survey, more than 5,800 sofa owners, including over 100 who owned Pottery Barn sofas, shared feedback on aspects such as the sofa's comfort, support, durability, style, ease of ordering, delivery and setup and more.

✔️ Seating: Each Pottery Barn sofa featured above can be customized to the size that best suits your needs and your space, whether you're looking for a sofa that can accommodate two, three or more people. While most sofas give you the choice between bench, two-cushion or three-cushion seating, not every model offers such a variety. Keep in mind that the specific sofa widths offered also vary depending on the collection. And it's important that you measure your space properly to ensure the best fit, as well as your door frame for a smooth delivery day.

✔️ Frame: Most Pottery Barn sofas are made with a hardwood frame, which indicates it's made of solid wood and should be more durable than particleboard (a cheaper wood blend). You'll even find some PB sofas like the York and Pearce collection that feature kiln-dried hardwood frames. This frame type is the best option as the wood undergoes a finishing process to make it stronger and prevent warping.

✔️ Material: Pottery Barn offers a huge variety of materials and fabrics for its sofas including basket weave, bouclé, suede, leather, linen, velvet, twill, chenille and plain weave. Before making a decision, we advise you to order a few free swatches so you can feel and test the material yourself. Also keep in mind that polyester is ideal for those who have kids or pets thanks to its stain-resistant nature, while natural fibers like cotton and linen are beautiful but won't be as durable over time. Leather offers durability as well as a luxurious look and feel, though it can be pricey, prone to scratches and more difficult to clean.

✔️ Cost: The cost of your Pottery Barn sofa will vary depending on the number of seats, style and other factors such as fabric choice. Don't forget to consider delivery costs as well, which will vary by location and your order total. Made-to-order items such as a sofa are not eligible for returns, so make sure you love what you're ordering and go into a Pottery Barn store first to test it out if you can.

No matter which Pottery Barn sofa you decide to go with, the ordering process will be similar. Before you order, we recommend paying attention to the dimensions available for your favorite sofa. Some sofas may be customized while others are only sold in certain sizes.

When it comes to fabric options, the sky is the limit. For each sofa, you'll be able to choose from more than 100 options, including but not limited to various shades of basket weave, bouclé, suede, linen, velvet, twill, chenille and plain weave. Before deciding which fabric is right for your home, consider ordering a few free sample swatches directly from Pottery Barn so you can see and feel them in person and in your space.

Depending on the fabric you choose, your sofa may be ready to ship in one to five weeks, though certain fabric and customization selections may take longer. Once your sofa is ready to be shipped, you'll schedule your delivery. Fees vary by zip code and order total, but all sofas will be delivered by Pottery Barn's two-person white glove delivery service. With this service, your sofa will be unpacked and assembled by a team and set up in your home. All packaging will be removed and recycled.

Lexie Sachs is the executive director of the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has been regularly conducting sofa surveys with the GH Institute's proprietary tester panel and used those data points to ensure this article contains trusted and comprehensive user feedback. Lexie is also a fiber scientist and used her expertise to highlight the importance of the upholstery-fabric and cushion-fill options.

GH Institute analyst Olivia Lipski closely collaborated with Sachs to write this guide based on our Textiles Lab's extensive testing data.

Olivia (she/her) is a media and tech product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, covering tech, home, auto, health and more. She has more than five years of experience writing about tech trends and innovation and, prior to joining GH in 2021, was a writer for Android Central, Lifewire and other media outlets. Olivia is a graduate of George Washington University, with a bachelor's degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master’s degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.

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